Midland Main Line

Midland Main Line
East Midlands Trains HST at Dore.
Overview
Type	Intercity, commuter rail, regional rail and heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Greater London East of England East Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber
Termini	London St. Pancras International Sheffield or Nottingham
Stations	35 (London to Sheffield)
Operation
Opened	Stages between 1830s–1860s
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	East Midlands Trains CrossCountry Thameslink TransPennine Express Northern GB Railfreight Freightliner DB Schenker Direct Rail Services
Depot(s)	Cricklewood Derby Etches Park Nottingham Eastcroft Toton Sheffield Station Neville Hill
Rolling stock	Class 43 HST Class 150 Sprinter Class 153 Super Sprinter Class 156 Super Sprinter Class 158 Express Sprinter Class 170 Turbostar Class 185 Desiro Class 220 Voyager Class 221 Super Voyager Class 222 Meridian Class 319 Class 377 Electrostar Class 700 Desiro City
Technical
Number of tracks	2–4
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loading gauge	W6-W8, planned upgrade to UIC GB+
Electrification	Mk3b 25 kV 50 Hz AC (south of Bedford)
Operating speed	Maximum 125 mph (201 km/h)

The Midland Main Line is a major railway line in England from London to Sheffield in the North of England. The line is under the Network Rail description of Route 19; it comprises the lines from London's St. Pancras station via Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Chesterfield in the East Midlands.

Express passenger services on the line are operated by East Midlands Trains. The section between St Pancras and Bedford is electrified and forms the northern half of Thameslink (mainly operated by Thameslink and Great Northern), with a fast service to Brighton and other suburban services.

A northern part of the route, between Derby and Chesterfield, also forms part of the Cross Country Route operated by CrossCountry. Tracks from Nottingham to Leeds via Barnsley and Sheffield are shared with Northern. East Midlands Local also operates regional and local services using parts of the line.

The Midland Main Line was built in stages between the 1830s and the 1870s. The earliest section was opened by the Midland Counties Railway between Nottingham and Derby on 4 June 1839. On 5 May 1840 the section of the route from Trent Junction to Leicester was opened.

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